Episode 22

"You saw me? Where exactly was this?"

"You attended the recent ceremony, did you not? I noticed you in the photographs."

Ah...

The event was so grand, it was no surprise Do-yoon attended. So-jung nodded in acknowledgment.

"I was quite taken aback to see you there, particularly given your affiliation with the Kyungmoon Group."

"Yes, well... it wasn’t something I meant to hide, but it seems it appeared that way."

"I didn’t anticipate encountering you in this manner either."

Do-yoon responded with a smile.

"By the way, your husband was present as well, correct?"

"Ah... you observed that too?"

"I heard about his recent accident. He seems to have recovered well."

"...Yes. Although he still suffers from some lingering effects."

So-jung had given this response countless times before. Yet now, possibly because she was contemplating a divorce, she found herself hesitating whenever someone mentioned her husband.

"That must be quite difficult for you."

"Yes, the accident had quite a severe impact..."

"No, I mean for you, So-jung."

"Pardon?"

"You were involved in the accident as well. Even if your injuries were less severe than your husband's, it must have been difficult to bear it alone, especially while managing his affairs."

So-jung's eyes widened in surprise. Few had expressed concern for her since the accident, focusing solely on her husband.

"An accident is still an accident, regardless of its severity. If you don't take proper care of yourself, you could truly grow sickly."

"..."

"I know a few places with excellent facilities. I could recommend one if you're interested."

Do-yoon then handed her his cell phone.

"May I have your number? I can suggest some places for you."

"Well..."

"It's just a recommendation, so don't feel pressured. Whether you choose to go or not is entirely up to you, Mrs. So-jung."

In the end, So-jung accepted Do-yoon's phone and entered her number.

"Now we can easily reach each other by name instead of using secret codes."

"..."

"By the way, the desserts here are excellent. Shall we order some more?"

"You still would like more?"

"Of course. Coffee and sweets are meant to be enjoyed together for the best experience."

So-jung agreed with a nod.

"I suppose you're right."

"Right? I'll go order more. How about a whole cake? After an accident, you should eat well."

"If I had two accidents, I might have ended up in a food competition. Just a slice will do."

"Well, the more you eat, the better."

With a broad smile, Do-yoon went to order the cake, and So-jung watched him and left out a short laugh.

---

"Daddy! Let's go on that one!"

What exhausted people the most in this world?

"Let's do that too!"

At this moment, if someone were to ask Hyun that question, he would confidently point to the child right in front of him. Unlike the fatigued Hyun, Harim was still brimming with energy, pulling him from one activity to another. Watching her, Hyun mused thoughtfully.

Do children at this age have boundless reserves of energy?

Otherwise, how could such a small body generate so much vigor?

Kang-chan seemed to have blocked Hyun's number, as his calls went unanswered, and he did not know So-jin's number. Hyun felt utterly drained.

...There was someone whose number he did know, though.

Lee So-jung.

Hyun shook his head reflexively at the thought of her face. But Harim, oblivious to his inner turmoil, tugged at his sleeve.

"Daddy, I'm hungry."

After playing for a while, Harim gazed at him, her eyes sparkling.

"If you're hungry, go find your mom. I want to find her too."

"Over there, bread!"

A food truck on the street was emitting a delicious aroma. With a small sigh, Hyun approached the food truck. The staff greeted him with a warm smile.

"Hello. What can I get for you?"

"Just something suitable for a child."

Hyun gestured towards Harim, who drooled at the sight of the food.

"Children usually can't handle spicy food, so how about our basic flavor? It is our best seller. And what would the father like?"

Father...

He had already been mistaken for Harim's father several times earlier. However, Hyun found it tedious to correct them each time. He simply nodded.

"Then I'll get the cheese and the basic flavor."

"Daddy, I want cheese too!"

"...Two cheese."

Exhausted, Hyun handed over the money. He took a seat on a nearby bench and handed one of the corn dogs to Harim.

"Eat quickly. We need to find your mom."

Hyun finally took a bite of his hot dog as he sank onto the bench, but his respite was short-lived. Harim had spilled sauce all over her clothes.

"Hey, you...!"

"..."

"How can you not hold onto it properly? What are you doing?"

Hyun raised his voice, startled by the mess, and Harim's eyes filled with tears which soon spilled over.

"Uwaaaaang!"

The child's cries immediately drew the attention of people around them. Hyun's face showed clear signs of distress.

"Hey, hey. Don't cry over that."

"Waaah!"

"Alright, I got it. I'll get you another one. Just stop crying, okay?"

Despite his attempts to soothe her, Harim wouldn't stop. A nearby elderly woman approached them.

"Oh dear, how can you expect a child to handle something that big? Do you have anything to clean up with?"

"...I don't."

"Goodness. You should always carry such things when you're out with a child."

Her words left Hyun silent. The elderly woman used her own handkerchief to wipe Harim's tears.

"There, there. That's a good girl. Stop crying now."

The gentle touch of the elderly woman gradually quieted Harim's sobs. Hyun observed in awe.

"Would you like to eat with Grandma? How about some rice balls?"

"Yes!"

Harim's eyes sparkled at the mention of rice balls. She quickly picked up a rice call and munched eagerly. The elderly woman smiled.

"Make sure to properly wash her clothes later. Stains like these don't come out easily."

"..."

"It doesn't seem like you go out alone with the child often. Watching over kids isn't easy, is it?"

Sigh...

At this point, Hyun couldn't understand why he was being treated as the child's father and subjected to such humiliation. With a face full of frustration, he asked.

"Are kids always this crazy?"

"Kids are naturally energetic. None of us were born knowing how to use utensils properly."

"..."

"We have been raised through love and nurturing. And we give back to our children what we have received."

Meanwhile, Harim, who had been eating the rice balls, looked up at Hyun. Hyun noticed her gaze and raised his eyebrows.

"What are you looking at?"

"Daddy, ah."

Harim shoved a rice ball into Hyun's mouth. Before he could react to the sudden mouthful, the child's bright smile filled his view. He was left speechless and simply stared.

"Good?"

"..."

"Is it bad?"

"It's good. It's good... just sit down and eat."

Realizing that if he criticized the food she would shove another rice ball into his mouth, Hyun quickly seated Harim.

"...If you finish eating, I'll play with you some more."

"Really?"

"Yes, so I beg you. Sit down and eat."

With that, Harim finally sat down and resumed munching the rice balls. Hyun leaned back in his seat, finally catching his breath. The elderly woman smiled.

"Children are quite amusing, aren't they?"

"…"

"No matter how many times they exasperate you, one smile can make it all worthwhile."

Hyun neither agreed nor disagreed. By now, Harim had finished her rice balls and was running towards the grass. The elderly woman stood up with her lunchbox.

"Enjoy your time with your daughter. Stay strong."

"Excuse me."

"Yes?"

"Here, for the rice balls."

Hyun held out some crisp bills. The elderly woman shook her head.

"No need. I was going to leave some anyway. Use the money to buy your daughter something more delicious."

"…"

"Take care. Our cute girl, have fun too."

"Goodbye!"

Harim bowed deeply, her head nearly touching the ground. The elderly woman chuckled at the sight and left, while Hyun sat back and watched Harim play.

"Daddy, Daddy!"

"What now?"

"Look, a white flower!"

Harim proudly held out a dandelion to Hyun and offered it as a gift. However, its seeds had already flown away in the wind. Harim's eyes widened.

"It's gone!"

"Are you an idiot? Of course, it's not there since you ran around like that..."

〈You idiot. if you run with it like that, it'll blow away with the wind.〉

A young girl's voice lingered in Hyun's ears as he watched the dandelion seeds scatter before his eyes. A girl's smile overlapped with Harim's face.

"Daddy?"

"…"

"Daddy!"

"Oh, right."

"I want to go on that ride."

Harim's shout brought Hyun back to reality. He looked down at the little girl and focused on the scene that flashed through his mind just a moment ago.

Right. When I was very young...

There was a lively, cheerful girl, like the child in front of me. Her name was...

"…"

Just then, Hyun's phone vibrated in his pocket. He answered to hear a familiar voice on the other end.

—Hello? Hyun, where are you now? The road cleared up faster than I thought, so I should be there in about thirty minutes.

"...Okay?"

—Alright. I'll hurry. Ji-hye can't wait to play with you. Isn't that right, Ji-hye?

Though Soo-ah's cheerful voice resonated through the phone, Hyun's eyes remained on Harim, who waved enthusiastically from the play area. Ji-hye's voice popped in his ear.

〈I want to come and play with you soon.〉

"..."

〈So I'll come quickly.〉

With Harim ahead and Ji-hye speaking in his ear, Hyun could only remain silent.

---

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